Restaurateurs in the southern Chinese town of Yulin held their annual dog meat festival on Monday despite international criticism of the event as cruel and unhygienic.

Dogs in cages are sold by vendors at a market during the dog meat festival in Yulin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Sunday (June 21). (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

2 / 17

People stand near cages with dogs on sale at a market during the dog meat festival in Yulin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Humane Society International, working with local activists, is making major inroads to stop the cruelty, and local authorities are feeling the pressure. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

3 / 17

Dogs in a cage look at passers-by at Yulin Big Market, China.

The Yulin “dog meat festival” coincides with the summer solstice in China. After suffering for days crammed into cages without food or water, the animals were butchered within sight of each other. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

4 / 17

A dog in a small cage waits to be sold in Yulin Big Market.

Thousands of dogs, many of them stolen pets, were trucked in from around the country by traders. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

5 / 17

Two men throw dogs into cages in Yulin Big Market on Sunday.

Between large protests, international media coverage and well over one million petitioners calling to stop the killing, progress is being made. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

6 / 17

A man on a motorbike sells dogs in cages in China.

As many as 10,000 dogs, many of them stolen pets, are slaughtered for the festival held deep inside the largely rural and poor Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

7 / 17

People sell dogs in Yulin Big Market.

“Eating dog meat is a local tradition, it has nothing to do with the local government,” said a receptionist at the Longmen Dog Meat Restaurant when reached by phone. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

8 / 17

A dog carries a basket with a paper that reads "curd for sale" at a market in Yulin. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

9 / 17

A man lights a cigarette as a cook roasts dogs at a restaurant in Yulin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The Yulin government distanced itself from the festival and announced new restrictions, but eateries reached by telephone reported brisk business during the event ostensibly held to mark the summer solstice. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

10 / 17

A man roasts dogs at a restaurant in Yulin.

Celebrities such as British comedian Ricky Gervais and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen have called for an end to the festival, and more than 3 million people have signed petitions protesting it, according to Shareeza Bhola, communications manager for change.org. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

11 / 17

Young people play games while eating dog meat at a restaurant. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

In the early hours of the morning a large truck carrying hundreds of dogs packed into tiny cages, arrived at Dongkou Market. The dogs were unloaded from the truck and moved to a larger cage so crowded they had to stand on top of one another. After this, the dogs were taken one by one to a room to be killed, and then moved to an alley where they were boiled and torched to burn off their hair. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

15 / 17

A large truck carrying hundreds of dogs packed into tiny cages arrives at Dongkou Market early in the morning on Sunday. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

16 / 17

A dog in a small cage waits to be sold in Yulin Big Market. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)

17 / 17

Two men pull dogs into the slaughterhouse at Dongkou Market. (Source: Photo by Associated Press)